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i have wondered what sort of techniques work against blind aikidoka. Moe waza wouldn't work. Flashing my non-hairy chest as distraction wouldn't work. sneak up on them in the dark probably wouldn't work. so i am thinking of compiling a list of things that we can use against blind aikidoka, just in case i run into any of them; obviously, they are a bunch of very dangerous folks.

There was a gentleman who came to learn at the school I train at. He could see some outlines of figures but, was legally blind. For a white belt he did sufficiently good and was capable of executing techniques. He trained for a couple of months then dropped off and did not come back. Nobody mistreated him and we were all impressed by his determination and attitude. I am pretty sure he mentioned that he study another martial art prior.

There was a gentleman who came to learn at the school I train at. He could see some outlines of figures but, was legally blind. For a white belt he did sufficiently good and was capable of executing techniques. He trained for a couple of months then dropped off and did not come back. Nobody mistreated him and we were all impressed by his determination and attitude. I am pretty sure he mentioned that he study another martial art prior.

Looking back at the posts I think that the distinction between what a "blind" person can do, and what the best martial art for a "blind" person is - is not being made.

I am absolutely confident that a legally blind person can be accommodated into a functioning aikido dojo and get something out of it and at the same time not disrupt the training. As with anyone I am absolutely sure that there is the same probability that truly exceptional individuals will emerge.

Leaving after two months does not show much determination - perhaps though he found that aikido did not fit all that well.